woodberry



J. H. WOODBERRY.

DELAY ACTION MECHANISM FOR FUSES.

APPLICATION FILED 05c, 10. 19S8.

Patented May 3, 1921.

4 SHEETS SHEET l.

J. HJWOODBERRY.

DELAY ACTION MECHANISM FOR FUSES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1918. 1,376,908., Patented May 3, 1921.

4- SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awvemtoc' J. H. WOODBERRY.

DELAY ACTION MECHANISM FOR ruszs.

m i/ l 93 m m u 3 an m Mr H v s m4 m P APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1918- 1,376,908.

J. H. WOODB ERRY. DELAY ACTiON MECHANISM FOR FUSES.

APPLICATION man 020.10. 9 18.

Patented May 3, 1921.

4 SHEETS-S HEET 44 it llna lit? t w UNITED STATES ARTMY.

DELAY-ACTIGN JMEEGHANISIIE FOR FUSES.

Application filcd December 10, 1918.

Pie it. known that; Join-t ii. lVoc'r-mnnnzt, nnrior. tl'rdnanw-v Drpurtn t' tntns Ai'ilhfiil citinon of tin nitril h tzithn. Hitttionml Ht ll'nshington. i), "Q. horn inw. ll nn lniprorenivnt. in i h-hiyiutiion hihrhi'allirilll tor hows-,1. tit whirh tin toiiowing is u spwitirntion.

Thu ini'vntion dwivriiml llifl't'i'tl 11121) ho 115ml h tlw iiin'ljilliiitfit. oi any of its otiicurs or mnnioynm in pronwntion oi worlc 'l'or tilt thnxvrnnwnt; or hr may other norson in tlir i llittti t' tutr a, without pnymrnt oi any ri'waltv thereon. I

ihr nrinri mi (.ifiljtt'i, ()2 HIV inwntion 1S to priwiiiw z: nm'lmnirnl nmiiis; for ohtnining sit wiil (inlay :irtion in it, I

It 'l'nrthm' ohiw't is wiwrvhy tho hzitivry ronnnnin iii :11 iiiF will. oht: n hither 2i moans nnr routiilhhiy action propoitionzz to Whit-h thiproj rtihnot rw-onntor on ininmt. :i (.UIP shin: li'hr' zwi'ion on inz'g zirt. or quirk EH- ton oi tho t'nsv.

' t it t'nrthor ohiifri to proviilo norol. lilttlllfi. For Emmi-inn wrtnini r oi nrtion in 2| Spring :n'inntml lirin lflgnrn t in :1 i'i ntrzil. vvrtiml. longitnili- 'nzil wriion through :i tllr-t' onihoilviirl my i111]HUTtliltHtH. showing tho position oi tho urts hhl'orttho proihvtilu rzirifvin thh FUN PHQHHH out of tho how of the grim. :1 Siiflilt. portion ln'ol-:on :\\\:i to show u rmitrilng'nl iorltiin; liltllliitl'i i i g, :2 is :1 Hiinihir \ivw. showing tho position oi tin nnrts :litt! tilt' roihrtiln harry inn tilt 'l'nsr he strnrl; thh tnrgvh lint ht'toru (*xplmion has tzilwn phn'i:

Fig. 3 is n trzrgnn-ntnrji. longitudinal Sum tionzil view ol' tho inst. showing-g the posh tion of the parts when thv [)Tlllltl' is ilvt (malted by the tiring: pin:

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the insQ 5' Specification of Letters Patent.

Pait'hntetl May 3. 11592-1.

Serial 1-10. 266,145.

E. 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625.)

Fig. :1 transrorse sectional 'ViQW on the illlt V--V 0t rig. 1 looking in the direction oi the :ir 'ows;

tlw lii'it fli'lf] Fig, '2, looking in the direction ot the arrows;

l igr. T is 1 (itf'tflfllitl (letuil View, in Side rlmntion. of the siit'inhlo SlQPYQ carried. by tho plunger;

Fig. h is a trnginontury. (letm'hml. ilvtziil How. in Sitit l wntioin of tho Qfli portion of tho plunger; v

Fig. 9 is :1 ilvtni'heii tletnil Yitw. in pen snwtivo. ot tho tiring! pin:

it? is a n'o llhrtivv detail \iow, in the nature of :i diagram. showing the plunger lot-icing; pin in Stt'iiflil and the locking uni tii1l 7('ii1lf positions thereof: 7

Fig.1: 11 ii; :1 (i-0w in side elevation, north in avrtion. FiM'H ilhSl' a slightly liltitiifiGti tor-1n ol insh. in which the ilvtonntor carries :1. fsomitiw tiring pin nttnrlnnvnt. :nnl Rimming tilt normal position I the ports:

Fig. 1'12 :1 Yitiw in shin Qhvntion, partly in rim-non. with tllt' rear and oi tlnbooster hroluj'n ziwn v showing tho position oi thr? Fig. 13; is; trngnwntnry longitinlinul vctionnl .iCW; showing thv position (it the ports whvn thv tnso vnvonnturs at I'tW iHtHIItL sntiivivnt to ('l'tNll thv tirin; pin nttm-hinunt:

Fig. 15'- ;1 view in shit t'ltYZltltH]. partly in ti'iitill. showing at slightly motiiiitil torn: ot t'nw. in \Yllit'ii tho lvtonutor tzil'l'itfi an :ittnrhniont operating to attoril A short (le l:i in t-xnloiling tho primer. upon impart (it tho tnsv with the ohjoctivr. this View showing thv normal poi ition of the ports:

i ig. it: is :1 \ivw' in iil0 tltYnt'iOil. partly in wtion. with the roar onil oi the booster lil'UhDIi nwzrr. showing thc noRit'ion of the parts innnvilintoly :i'ttvr impart with tho turg'vt:

l ig. IT is n il'tlgiilihl'lt'zll') longitudinal 90vtionzil \iuw. showing: pos tion of parts whvn tho t'nstvnronnt'vrs :1 l'tSiSi'illKt"SllfilCiQIlt to -rnsh tlw tirin; pin attzn-lnnhnt; and I Fig. 18 is n tlttflt'llld View in perspective ot tlit ttztchmunt shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

Hotcrring. now. in detail to the lruwings, znnl first, to Figs. 1 to it), illPltlSlYQ,

ii 'zi trzinsvvrse sectional Yiew on opening 11,

The fuse stock 2 is provided at its front end 'with a ring 23 closed by a cap piece 1*, which has a screw threaded engagement with said ring.

Slidable axially of the fuse stock is a plunger 4 provided with a head- 3* secured thereto by the pin 5. The rear inner end of the plunger carries the detonator (3", w th primer 7*, cooperating with the firing pm, which in this instance, comprises the firing pin proper 8 axially carried by a head 8 from which extends a shank 8". The firing pin device thus described is held in a longitudinally extending opening 8 in the rear end of the plunger 45. The booster 1O has a threaded engagement with the rear end of the fuse-stock 2 and is provided with a cup 9 to receive the detonator. I

'The extension 26 of the ring 23 is pro vided with a transverse opening ll to house the centrifugally operated lug 12 which is normally urged towardthe plunger by a spring 13 seated between the lug and the disk 14 closing the outer end of the The lug 12 cooperating with shoulder 15 obtained by providing plunger t with the peripheral groove 18 normally renders the fuse safe during transportation and storage, and also prevents the locking sectors 16 from being separated, due to any lateral shock.

The centrifugally operable safety looking sectors 16' are seated on the oblique face 17 o'tthe ring 23, and normally engage in the groove 18 to hold the plunger in unarmed relation.

' The primer of the detonator cates, through port 20, with material 15) carried (3 commnni the explosive in a peripheral pocket of the detonator. As shown in Fig. l, the whole detonator is normally in an airchamber 21 ol the hollow stock. This air space may be vented to the atn'iosphcre through openings 22 in the ring 23. The sliding lit between the detonator (1" and the cup 9 is made sul liciently tight, so that, t the dctonator is prematurely exploded. the hot gas cannot reach and explode the boos'ter charge. The ccntritugally-ol'nn'ating locking mcmbcigs 2-1- are housed in a transverse opcning 25in the plunger 4-, to cooperate with the shoulder 26 toward thc inner end of the fixed plungcrguide-sleeve 26 carried by the ring 23. when the released plungcr is 'l'orccd rcarwardly by the air pressure on the head 3" during flight. These members 24, prevent the plunger, together with the detonator. from again assuming thc position shown in Fig. l.

The delay action in this form of 'l'use is sccnrcd by providing the longitudinally movable and rotatable firing pin U with dian'ictrically oppositely disposed lugs, which l'unction in the slots 28 in the plnn gcr 4, and by providing the pin with the such length,

spring 32 coiled around the shank 8 thereof and seated between the head thereof and a lead washer 29 in the forward end of the longitudinal opening 8 in the plunger. The spring is normally compressed, and is prevented from propelling the pin by having the lugs 27 seated in the inclined sec tions or offset portions 28" of the slots 28, and by having a sleeve 30 with an inward projecting piece or keeper 31 sliding in one of the slots 28 and normally disposed at the inner end of such slot. The keeper 31 is of as to hold the adjacent lug 27 in the inclined section 28 of the slot.

The operation of this form of "fuse is as follows The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 1, wherein the spring 32 is shown compressed, and the pin 8 turned so thatits lugs 27 are seated in the inclined or curved branches 28 otthe slots 28 and retained therein by the member 31 on the sleeve 30. During flight, the lug 12 is moved, through centrifugal force, Fig. and releases the plunger, with the detonator and firing pin remaining as shown in Fig. l. 'lVhen the centrifugal force act ing on the quadrant sectors 16 overcomes the inertia of these members. that is, when. the positive linear acceleration ceases, they move outwardly, and the air resistance on the head 3 causes the plunger to move inward, so that the detonator (3 within the booster cup E). The plunger is locked in tllis position by the centritugallyjr operating bolts 24- engaging the shouli'l rs 26", as shown in Fig.

Immediately al'tcr thc instant oi" impact, the position shown in Pig. 2 obtains. "lihe. projectile and l'uscnrc retarded thr u"gh out the duration ol the resistance cncolnitcl'zll. Thc lendcncy of all parts on thh interior of thc l usc is to move 'l orward through thc l'orcc duc to incrtia ol' these parts. The slccvc 30, bcing no longer prevented l'rom moving lorward, does not expcricncc this rctardation and consequcntly slidcs l'orward as shown in Fig. 2. so that its locking lug ll uncovers the inclined branch 2 in which the mn'rcs mnding lug 2T ol the tiring pi|risciig'ag'(al. So long as the rcsistancc is such as to cause the inertia ol' the tiring pin and spring to produc'v a force grcatcr than and countcr to the l'orcc oi the sprin the tiring spring remains comprcsscd. When the resistance bccolncs insullicient to keep thc firing spring ita-oniprcsscd, the spring extends itsell with a. force equal to thc dill'crcncc between the force due to the inertia of these parts and the force ol' the spring. It the cessation of the resistance is sullicicntly sudden, the tiring pin will be prejcctcd into the primer, exploding thc l'nse.

If, howevcr, the resistance should cease to the position shown in gradualiv. the tiring in sprin extend gradually and e nseipientlv'l pin may not hare sullieient' loree LO ire primer. To ohviate sueh an om-urrenee. means are provided tor retarding the 33-1- Lenslon oi the :--:pring until sutlieient tort-e is aeein: .ilated therein to tire the primer when th spring extends; 'l he retardation ot' aetion is ohtuineil hr rotting the inrlined liranehes: in. in 'lllt'll the tiring pin lugs 27 rest at Silt'lt an angle to the slots 2o that it. will retpiire al'oree sullieientlygreat to lire the primer to overeome 'l'rietion l etween the lugs and said ell'set p rtions 2%? to drive the ill into the longitudinal slots :35. it. is tIlEllseen thal a gradual eessat'ion or deerease ol resi lilt't to penetration will not anse the spring to extend gradually. lHit with snliieient l'oree. in all rases, to lire, the primer. .lhe lug "7 ol' the tiring pin .rotat'e out ol' the low ned slots and then with .a longitudinal :novemenh the pin is propelled. under the :ation ol the Sprin against the primer.

t'he primer. as shown in Fig. 12?.

tiltn lS. the delay.

The a tion ol' this ives an autoniatio seleetive delay in lirn. on'ough ineehanieal.

ll eases. laeing proportional to the do on oi the resistanee eneounl'ered. Willi lnis design oil .iuse. in armor piereing she the shell explodes ininnalialelv 2 l'ter penetrating the armor. For rieoehet uetion. the shell explodes immedidiaiei alter the projeetile honnres ltorn the ground For mining purposes. the shell mum depth and then explode. and. should a hoinh proof. or other evil he (1HUlliitered in its paih through the earth. the explosion will talie plaee in the eavit in any ease. the explosion oi the shell will tlllit plaee immediately after the resist anee eases or de r-eases snllieienllv to permit: the tiring pin laeing driven. under the aelion oi the, tiring pin spring. into the primer.

ilel'erring. now. in detail to Figs. ii to ll. inehisive:

in this *t'orni oi Fuse. a sensitive firing pin aitaehment is shown as detaehahlv earried lrv the hase oi the detonator Slitlth'. so that. while in llight. the air pressure will drive the plunger El rearward inl'o the liring position until the sensitive tiring pin att'aehinent rests on the hottom ot' the Eli ing pin eup l l. as shown in Fig. l2. When the luse eneonnters a resistant-t snllieienl to erush the strueture supporting the liring the tiring pin will he driven into and the fuse will lire instantly. This atilaehnieut. therefore. ali'ords an easy and simple means o'l ohtaining t ui -l: aetion. thereh 'v renders ing the luse universal in applit'ation. \Vhen it. is desired to utilixe'this design of iuse. l'or (lllltk aetion. the firing pin attaehment is snapped into position by hand prior to pin ol the detonator filo earried h the rear end" ot the plunger 33 is provided with a reeess 3t) ieading to the priniing material 7. and the U-shaped memher 35 is sprung into said reeess. as shown.

l-Iel'erring, now, in detail, to Figs. 15 to its. inelusive:

it is desir: hle at times in artillery tire to olitain a short delay upon impaet'. in these ligures there is shown a means for ohtain ing a very short delay upon impaet. Fig. 18 shows an attaelm'ient similar to that shown in Fig. 1%, exeept; that the firing pin renmred. ith this at tzu-hrnent plaeed in the hase ot' the detonator. the plunger, when driven haek hf air pressure, assumes the position shown in Fig. 16. h uhseouent inipaet tends to erush this attaehment. as shown in Fig. lT. hut. as the plunger has eonsiderahle momentum while. in liighl' and th' attaehmenti lli otl'ers eonsiderahle resistanee to erushingl. a short time will eiapse hel'ore the plunger has moved sullieiently to the r air to permit the sleeve Ji (whieh is the same lnemher as is designated lJ the ret'erenee numeral fi l in l to 25) lo lllll()('l\' the firing pin. While the plunger is thus heing retarded, the sheli. not having eome in eontaet with the resistanee. does not experieme any retardation until its pene ration liegins.

The shell in a short. interval oi time theretore overtakes the head ol' the plunger. and in doing so. imparts a positive linear ae eeleration to the plunger and detonatoi. The pin. having heen previoush unloeked l'roni the plunger does not experienee this aeeeleration and eonsequently is overtaken In the aeeelerattal primer. The pin is also moved relatively rearward h v the aetion ol the spring. thus augmeniing the l oree with \vliieh the pin eneounters the primer. dust prior to the impingement ol" the shell against the head ol the plunger. the spring is under eonipression due to the deeeleralion ot' its eontainer. the plunger: hut. when this deeeleration ehanges lo aeeeleratiou l| the impingement ol' the shell. the spring is tree to extend under its own l'oree. \Yith shownin Figsi ll to 18, inclusive, it will be understood that, except as described, the

mechanism is precisely the same as is embodied in the form of the fuse shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive.

lVhile I have, in compliance with the letter and spirit of the patent laws, described, with great particularity, a specific structural-embodimentof my invention, it is to I be understood that various changes will suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and that ,all of such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims constitute no departure from my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI; claim as new and desire to secure as Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a fuse of a plunger carried therein and normally held in forward position, and means normally disposed entirely within said plunger in the forward position of the latter and operable when the plunger is moved to rearward position to project therefrom' automatically and lockthe same against retrograde movement.

21 The combination with a fuse of a plunger carried therein and normally held in forward position, and locking bolts normally disposed" entirely within said plunger in the forward position of the latter and operable when the plunger is moved to rearjward' osition to project therefrom auto- -matica ly and lock the same against retrograde movement.

3. In a fuse, the combination with the fuse stock of a plunger carrying at its rear end a detonator having a recess in its rear end, and a deformable member removably supported in said recess. 7

4. The combination with a fuse, of a detonator, means for firing the detonator, an auxiliary firing attachment removably carried by the detonator casing adapted to fire said detonator independently of the main firing means. i

The combination with a fuse, having a safety-chamber, of a detonator normally in said safety chamber, and a member carried by the detonator casing and operable upon impact after movement of said detonator from said safety chamber, to determine the delay action of the fuse.

6.111 a fuse, the combination, with a plunger having a longitudinally extending recess in its rear end, of a normally-re strained firing-pin disposed in said recess and releasable by an axial turning movement, and a spring also disposed in said recess for causing said movement and for moving said pin intofiring position.

7. in a fuse, the combination, with a plunger having a longitudinally-extending rccess in its rear end and longitudinally-extending slots communicating with said recess, said slots having offset portions, of a firing, pin device movable in said recess, and having lugs normally seated in said offset portions of the slots to lock the firing pin in operative'position, and means carried by said plunger for normally preventing such lugs from being moved out of Said offset portions of the slots.

8.111 a fuse, the combination, with a plunger having a longitudinally extending recess in its rear end and longitudinally extending slots communicating with said recess, said slots having offset portions, of a firing-pin device movable in said recess and having lugs normally seated in said offset portions of the slots to lock the firing pin in operative position, means, including a sleeve encircling said plunger, for normally preventing said lugs from moving out of said offset'portions of the slots.

9. In a fuse, the combination, with a plunger having a longitudinally-extending recess in its rear end and longitudinally-extending slots communicating with said recess, said slots having offset portions, of a firing-pin device movable in said recess and having lugs normally seated in said offset portions of the slots to lock the firing pin in operative position,- and a sleeve encircling said plunger and provided with a keeper sliding in one of said slots for normally preventing said lugs from moving out of said offset portions of the slots.

10. The combination, with a fuse, of a plunger carried therewithinand normally held in forward position, and centrifugallyoperable means normally disposed entirely within said plunger in the forward position of the latter, and operable, when the plunger is moved to rearward position, to project therefrom and lock the same against retrograde movement.

11. A combination with a fuse, of a plunger carried therewithin and normally held in forward position, and centrifugallyoperable locking bolts normally disposed entirely within said plunger in the forward position of the latter and operable, when plunger is moved to rearward position, to project therefrom and lock the same against retrograde movement.

12. In a fuse, the combination, with a fuse-stock, of a fixed plunger-guiding sleeve disposed within said stock, a plunger slidable in said sleeve and normally held in forward position. and centrifugally-operable means normally disposed entirely within said plunger in the forward position of the latter and operable, when the plunger is moved to rearward position, to project therefrom and engage said plunger -guiding end, a detonator having a recess in its rear end, of a readily crushable, substantially U-shaped member, of spring material, removably held in said recess.

14.'In a fuse, the combination, with a plunger carrying at its rear end a detonator having a recess in its rear end, of a readily crushable firing-pin support removably held in said recess, and a, firing-pin carried by said support.

15. In a fuse, the combination, with a plunger carrying at its rear end a detonator having a recess in its rear end, of a readily crushable firing-pin support, comprising a U-shaped member removably held in said recess, and a firing pin carried by said support.

16. In afuse, the combination, with a plunger carrying at its rear end a detonator having a recess in its rear end, ofa readily crushable firing-pin support, of spring material, sprung into said recess, and a firing-pin carried by said support.

17. In-a fuse, a combination with a fusestock, of a booster carried at the rear thereof, a stationary cup within said booster, a plunger carrying, at its rearend, a detonator and an independently longitudinally-movable firing pin, said plunger being normally held in a forward position with the detonator'at the forward end of said cup,'and yieldable means carried at the rear-end of said booster and impingeable with said cap nator and impingeable with said cup in the rearward movement of said plunger to temporarily prevent unlocking moyement' of said firing pin locking means.

19. In a fuse, the combination, with a plunger and a booster carrying a cup, of a i normally restrained firing-pin carried by the plunger atthe rear end thereof, means for locking said firing pin in restrained position, a detonator also carried by said plunger and withdrawn from said cup in the forward position of said plunger, and a substantially U-shaped, yieldable member detachably carried by the rear end of said detonator, and impingeable with said cap in the rearward movement of'said plunger to temporarily prevent unlocking movement of said firing-pin locking means. I

JOHN H.- 'WoonBERRY. 

